The Tribrid's Mate

"That's a beautiful piece of jewelry. I cannot take my eyes off." "Thanks. I made it myself." Milena blushed, her hands moving to the necklace unknowingly. She had sat for the entire night to create this masterpiece. She was glad someone noticed it. It felt pleasant to Milena to hear compliments from some random stranger lady at a bus stop in a city she had never been to before. She was really thankful to her. She never liked to beautify herself or wear jewelry in the first place. But today is different. She is here in a random street in a new place to explore and discover herself before she gives up everything to fit in. Honestly, she wasn't even sure she would succeed. But there was nothing she could lose from this little outing. She had lived a gloomy, monotonous life. It was the hard-earned, short-lived freedom she had earned for herself. She wanted to enjoy it to the fullest until it would last. She was more than happy to receive this unexpected compliment from this stranger lady at the bus stop she was waiting. The lady too left soon when her bus arrived, and she was the only one at the empty bus stop. The area was less populated. There were few to no passerby in the streets. The last nearby shop is about to close too. Milena started to get cold feet. She was afraid that either she had missed her bus. Or perhaps, it was not coming because of some reason. Either way, she is in a deserted street in a new place. Milena hurried towards the lonely shop open. It was on the opposite side of the road. She did not want to miss the owner or the shop to get closed. Just as she had crossed half of the road, she saw the shopkeeper close the shop and head towards his vehicle. She started speeding up and shouting for him to stop when she heard a gunshot in the nearby alley. She looked towards the direction from where the sound came, panicked. The ground slipped from her feet. Just like that, on a day she was supposed to create good memories, she became a witness to a murder attempt. She could clearly see the killer who was now heading towards her pointing the gun's muzzle towards her. The man he had shot groaned in pain before his voice vanished into thin air. He was dead! Now she was a witness to a murder. Fear crippled inside her skin. She wanted to run. But she couldn't move, afraid that the killer would fire his gun if she moved even for an inch. The shopkeeper had left in a hurry without even turning to check. He did not want to get involved in this. Milena was left alone with a murderer, a dead man, and her fear in the middle of nowhere. When the killer was fazed by the sudden light coming from the shopkeeper's car, Milena found her golden chance to escape. She started to run in the opposite direction from him. However, the killer was faster. Much faster, to her surprise. It was as if he teleported or something. He caught her in a matter of seconds. Before she could scream or protest, he made her inhale something. The last thing she heard before losing her senses was police sirens. She hoped they rescue her from this killer. As she blacked out, she saw the deep, threatening, angry eyes of the killer. Probably, the shopkeeper called the police. All she hoped was that the police would catch the killer and rescue her before she passed into oblivion. **** When Milena got back to her senses, it was still dark outside. She was unsure if it was the same day or she had been out for days. Maybe the killer was in a run with her as the hostage. She wondered why the killer had not killed her till now. It wasn't a wise move to keep the only eyewitness alive. Then a dreadful thought crossed her mind that made her shudder from inside. Probably he was waiting for her to regain her senses. Out of fear, Milena pretended to be unconscious, waiting for the right opportunity to escape. She was determined not to get killed this way. Not at least when she still had a messed up and her dreams unfulfilled. She had thought of giving up several times and had not thought that her desire to live would rise in such a dire situation. Even if she was scared, a survival instinct kicked in inside her, giving her new hope. With newfound confidence to live, she was ready to do whatever it would take to escape and live. In the backseat of the car, Milena wondered how she got new motivation and confidence to bring a change in her life when she was so near to death. Before this week, she was so miserable trying to stand up for herself that she started believing that death would not be such a bad option. But somehow, she managed to come on a solo trip after a lot of plans going into action and, in the end, got kidnapped. When she is this close to dying, she is determined to live and take back control of her life. She promised herself that she would escape and be the bold, confident, and spunky one she once was before life took an unexpected turn. While deep in her thoughts, she noticed from whatever little she could she without being caught that she was awake by the killer that they were in a more lighted place. She was hopeful. The car suddenly stopped, and the killer got out. She finally opened her eyes fully to understand that it was a gas station. Milena gathered courage and rose a little to check on the killer before running away. She saw the killer filling the gas. She hoped once the killer went inside the 7-Eleven stores, she would run. Unlike what she thought, the killer turned to open the back door of the car. Milena quickly adjusted to her previous state in a sleeping position. She could feel the gaze of the killer burning holes through her. Panic started to build in her again. Thousand dangerous and wild thoughts evaded her mind. "Do you want something from the seven eleven? We have a long road ahead. It would be after breakfast time when we reach our destination.", the killer said in a cold, indifferent tone. Milena was surprised to hear him utter those words. He clearly knew she was awake. She still laid down, pretending to be unconscious, baiting that if she stayed like that, he would leave her alone. She decided to continue her game. She could feel his irritation when he scoffed and groaned loudly. But she continued with her acting. She believed this was the only way he wouldn't kill her. "This is irritating! I couldn't be a gentleman any more than this. I am asking you if you need anything for the last time. But if you don't want anything, we can start." The killer spoke in a cold voice that gave her goosebumps as her heart paced in fear. When Milena thought he had finished his prep talk, he smirked. "It is not like someone needs energy after being drugged to escape from a killer. In your case, kidnapper." Milena could not take his mockery anymore or his blatant attitude. It was like he could read her mind. She could not take it that there was another person now in her life who wanted to control her. She had enough men dictating her life. She felt done! She does not want to be controlled by a stranger, out of all. Not at all from this kidnapper, at least. Milena opened her eyes and quickly got up. She stared deep into his dark eyes. It was a battle of gaze, both trying to convey their dominance on each other. She wanted him to know she was not going to take any crap from him, even if he decided to kill her then and there! He had a naturally dominant aura surrounding him. He was confused for a second to witness someone standing up to him. It was new and puzzling. "Go ahead, kill me. It is not your first time anyway, murderer." She retorted. Milena was not sure what made her say like that. Or from where she got such an adamant voice. She couldn't understand if she was shaking from fear or anger. But she didn't flicker her eyes from his stubborn gaze. After a while, he smirked again, much to her annoyance. "It looks like you definitely don't need energy. Come to the passenger's seat in the front. We can start now." Milena did not lose her temper, even if she had decided internally not to annoy the killer any further. She can't afford to make him furious to the extent where he kills her for good. Of course, she wanted to live and seek another opportunity to run. She needed to be patient. But it was then her stomach grumbled, much to her displeasure. She looked down, shameful. The killer locked her inside the car and went inside the seven eleven. Even if she tried to get out of it, she couldn't. She sighed in frustration and waited for him to return. She would save her energy for the right time. The killer gave her the food. He started the engine and drove as fast as he could as if he had some emergency. Well, he was a fugitive, she scoffed inside her head, looking outside. Throughout the journey, he kept it to himself, showing no emotion or uttering a single word. Both of them had conflicting thoughts. They were caught in this situation. It wasn't a choice but trouble for both of them.